On July 9, 2020, the Public Defender of Georgia submitted an alternative report to the United Nations for the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Georgia.

The alternative report concerns the challenges faced by the country in the following areas: the right to life, gender equality, fight against discrimination, economic and social rights, prevention of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, freedom of expression, children’s rights, situation of human rights defenders, rights of persons with disabilities, right to a fair trial and freedom of assembly.

The report also focuses on problematic issues that had not been reflected in the recommendations made to Georgia within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism in 2015.

Along with the alternative report, the Public Defender submitted an appendix containing information on the implementation of recommendations made to Georgia within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review in 2015. In particular, the Public Defender assessed the implementation of 169 out of the 196 recommendations endorsed by the Government of Georgia in 2015.

The Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism established by the UN Human Rights Council, aims to improve the human rights situation in UN Member States. Namely, the human rights situation is reviewed under this mechanism in all UN member states in every 4-5 years.

It should be noted that the Public Defender of Georgia has been actively cooperating with the mentioned human rights mechanism since 2010, both by submitting periodic reports and participating in the sessions of the Human Rights Council.